World's Rarest Rainbow Trout is Blue!

For more great trout fishing content: bit.ly/3eADeto
Isolated for 10,000 years by a landslide they are found nowhere else and spawn in only a small stretch of the Lyre River that feeds into Lake Crescent. The lake is huge, deep, and nutrient poor supporting a low density trout population that specialize in feeding on Kokanee. Restrictive weight, hook, and bait regulations make targeting these deep living trout difficult but I did connect with two of these blue backed bows as well as a couple of "crescenti" Cutthroat Trout that are similarly isolated. I love a challenge and more than that I love the "endless forms most beautiful" that geology and evolution have crafted for us to enjoy.
Tackle Featured in this Video:
- Old Town Sportsman's PDL 120 bit.ly/32LthGU
- Luhr Jensen Silver Dodger amzn.to/34DvsLK
- Wooly Bugger Fly amzn.to/34DNBZQ
Thanks for watching!

[@tinglemccringleberry8899]

We had a cabin on that lake when I was a kid. Very special place.

[@mike.j]

My wife and I were invited to this lake last weekend and I immediately thought of this video. I allow myself to target endangered C&R fisheries only once or twice a year to make special memories, and this was special indeed. The colors of the lake and the fish are really that blue in person. I installed a second seat on my Salty and took my wife trolling for the first time (no license required here) and she reeled in an amazing 16 incher. We each netted and cleanly released one fish and then just paddled around to enjoy the water and leave the trout alone. Thanks for this video as I probably wouldn’t have figured out the dodger + woolly bugger combo myself.

[@dollyvarden69]

Enjoyed your video. This lake is so special precisely for the reasons you mentioned, the Crescenti Cutthroat and Beardslee Trout are found no where else on Earth, they are unique and beautiful and HIGHLY ENDANGERED. The Beardslee were overfished for years and perhaps more concerning is that the spawning habitat for them near the outlet of the Lyre river has been degraded by human activity so their reproduction may not be enough to keep them around especially, if more people boat there or introduce invasive species with their boats or trailers. Please use extreme care if you bring a boat to Lake Crescent and inspect it and the trailer for anything brought from another waterway. Also the Crescenti Cutthroat as beautiful as they are, are all hybrids in the lake because of interbreeding with Rainbow trout that the State stupidly stocked in there for years. It's a unique gem that needs the utmost care and protection and that's why it has the restrictive fishing regulations to protect what remains of the rare bigger fish that are just barely hanging on. We've all seen how quickly many of our favorite lakes have been severely altered and damaged by introduced non-native plants, fish and mollusks, it happens very fast. Lake Crescent because of it's nutrient poor natural state and it's genetically unique fish could be irreversibly harmed by any introduced species and needs more protections to keep it intact they way nature intended. Please enjoy and protect this unique and amazing gem in our state.

[@mustangsandwich]

Great video. Beautiful lake and fish! I am familiar with that lake. Never fished it. Growing up as a kid in Washington I remember the kooky regs - weight limitations, certain stretches closed certain week days, barbless all over, etc. Good job catching these beauties.

[@clemp3010]

This is by far my favorite fishing channel. Can't get enough. Thanks for all the work that goes into these videos.

[@thehonfleur]

Love the fact ur camping by the lake!

[@WAFishQuest]

I really enjoyed this episode! I've hiked around Crescent several times but have never fished it. I see why they call them "blue backs" now!

[@WAFishQuest]

@@brandost2969 hello! I'll be putting out a Coho episode next week. Just a rando though (opposed to a regular fish quest).

[@captainconnorsadventures6357]

Washington Fish Quest can’t wait for that 🙏🏻🤘🏻

[@kirkjohnson9353]

Really enjoy this video. I had never heard of this rare fish. So cool that you were able to connect.

[@chriswebster9632]

Nice Video. I got married on the dock of our family member’s cabin on that lake. Not too far from where you are fishing if I’m not mistaken. Gorgeous location, crystal clear ice cold water and a tough bite. So lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful natural resources here in the PNW

[@scrappyjackalope9558]

Those trout are great but that water was phenomenal too. Thanks for the video..

[@ntc3gtr]

That trout has been on my bucket list for along time. I just have never made anytime to do it. Great report and catch

[@yakhusker5914]

One of my favorite lakes of all time. Crystal blue water. Used to be a ferry crossing the lake that we’d jump the wake while skiing early in the morning. Trolled big black and brown maribou leech patterns behind a paddle boat in the 90’s. Caught some big ones back then. Haven’t been there in a long time though. Just drive byes on the way to Forks. Thanks for bringing back great memories!

[@hannibalgrim]

Beauty. First time hearing about the Bearsdlee. Always enjoy your vids.

[@robin8559]

The lake is Very clear. You can see the bottom in 80 feet of water. Or more. Beautiful

[@fixingtogofishing]

Looks like someone made a lake out of raspberry blue kool-aid!! Very awesome!

[@Theophilus1968]

Nice way to spend a couple days and what a pretty little trout.

[@johncole5297]

Wow What a great video. A big thumbs up

[@tanbandanamanband256]

Nice video. Love catching these beauties in my kayak. I troll at a slightly faster pace with a small brass castmaster and don't find them to be all that rare. Closer to where the lyre starts is a good spot, but I usually set out from eastbeach and go to the southeast section that is totally covered by trees.

[@papabrown3919]

Just seen you driving south outside of Omak wa

[@ezbake11791]

One of my favorite lakes! I do well from the bank throwing kastmasters

[@kcreameans]

Wow! Very Cool

[@SeaRun1]

There are some big Beardslees in that lake. We stop off and do a quick dive there off the road on the way home from Neah Bay. They follow you around and some of them appear to be several pounds. It is a beautiful clear lake to dive in. Great video!

[@spiltmilt]

I saw several on the fishfinder that looked very large.

[@brianomdahl3321]

Great video as always. It is amazing how large those fish were around 1900. I believe I have read they would get upwards of 30lbs, correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again for the video.

[@spiltmilt]

Yup. Still big fish in there just beyond the reach of my gear.

[@jonlobello7151]

When I lived in B'Ham, I had to drive past that lake to salmon and steelhead fish in the rivers around Forks (as well as the Hoko River). I never fished Crescent Lake but always wondered about what was in it. I also worked in Forks in '93 and again in the summer of '09. Looks like there's a pretty nice campground there (from your clip). Also it seems that the weather was in your favor this time.

[@spiltmilt]

Usually it's really windy.

[@jonlobello7151]

@@spiltmilt Usually I got rained on everytime I went over to the Olympic peninsula no matter what time of year.

[@derrickdeeds9386]

Was eating lunch with my dad on the side of the lake when he was telling me about these fish, as he finished talking there was one cruising about 50ft from shore (could’ve been a cutt I suppose) but nonetheless very special place and fish!

[@BC-ue3ku]

We try and go out there every year and stay at the other end of the lake. Missed it this year 😢 it’s so beautiful out there catching fish is just a bonus.

[@spiltmilt]

the east end road was closed due to fire this year. I wanted to try that end of the lake.

[@practicedm]

Awesome

[@papabrown3919]

Had the white pickup with the lpaddle board on top

[@hotpoker4212]

Beautifull fish, what type of fishing rig are you using, greetings from the Emerald Isle of, 🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮

[@vspec17]

NICE!!!

[@YSOSERIOUS596]

What about using a dispey diver or jet diver?

[@edelms3255]

Can you fly fish the Lyre early Sept?...I'm assuming the kokanee also spawn in the Lyre, so do the large trout in the lake head into the river to eat roe?

[@spiltmilt]

You can. I'm not sure if the Bows or Cutties follow them up but I bet a few do.

[@edelms3255]

@@spiltmilt I've fished the Stehekin mid Sept when the kokanee are spawning there, and quite a few of the large rainbows and cutties did come into the river from Lake Chelan for the big protein gulp before the winter; granted, the Stehekin is a much longer river before the big waterfall than the Lyre

[@Jonathan-wo6kf]

What reel are you using? Is it the same one you use for Kokanee?

[@spiltmilt]

Okuma Convector 20D. I do use it for larger Kokanee sometimes.

[@thepacificnorthwestkid5142]

Question: how long of a leader do you use behind your dodger?

[@papabrown3919]

16

[@spiltmilt]

For trout 12-18"

[@thepacificnorthwestkid5142]

Thanks!!!

[@thepacificnorthwestkid5142]

@@spiltmilt I’m headed out to Sprague tomorrow to try for some big Lahantans! I’ll try about a 14” leader and let you know how it goes!

[@brilintube]

Spilt Milt Productions I just received my FREE-SLIDER & 18” BUMPER in the Mail, and I’m excited to try it. So I’m rigging up four of my trolling rods to troll for Cutthroats that average 17” - 20”. Usually I troll my fly about 28” behind the dodger, so do you think that it would be just as affective to to use a 18” leader? The shorter leader would sure make easier to net the fish. I put an action disk by the fly, so I don’t worry about the dodger imparting action as much be an attractor. Thanks, and keep up the great work.

[@MrAcuta73]

Seriously cool fish and lake....bizarre regulations. Guess they really don't want you hooking the brood stock, eh?

[@spiltmilt]

Precisely

[@fishingwithfoxxxy1371]

what lake

[@justinrowden6919]

Where is this

[@iworks2000]

Lake Merwin?

[@captainconnorsadventures6357]

Wow what a beautiful fish, I just posted a video where we catch what looks to be a Tiger trout using flies at a lake in your neck of the woods! Great video 🙏🏻

[@spiltmilt]

Congrats! They are beautiful fish

[@robertbielby3002]

Try fishing at night its a different world then I seen bites come on out thier were you could not keep them off my largest. Was 31 inches with 19. 3/4 inc girth right at about 14 lbs

[@asully70]

Cool, I had no idea. What crazy restrictions, 2oz of lead and single point barbless.....When is the drone making its debut?

[@spiltmilt]

Soon just haven't been anywhere that I can legally fly it.

[@vspec17]

The life.

[@evanfuller3755]

To be clear this lake officially is 624 ft deep.

[@spiltmilt]

That's deep yo.

[@adventureanglingpnw1821]

I thought the rarest trout in the world were california's golden rainbow trout

[@spiltmilt]

It's debatable both are incredibly rare. Although I would add Paiute Cutthroat Trout to that potential list too

[@adventureanglingpnw1821]

@@spiltmilt that is true. Regardless good fishing and great handling of those fish. Good to see beautiful places like that.

[@vulcanez]

How about using a diver that weighs 2oz 🤷‍♂️

[@Theophilus1968]

I'm a new trout fisherman. I have a little 15' Bayrunner with a 15 hp outboard. I'm located around Olympia, Wa. Can you turn me on to some fall trout fishing? I've always fished the salt but sold my big Alumaweld and trying to turn on my teenage boys to fishing. Thanks for any leads.

[@spiltmilt]

Check out Offut Lake

[@Theophilus1968]

@@spiltmilt, okay. It's on my list! Thanks 👍

[@danielcadwell9812]

I only have one question. Why in the world are you wearing that neck gaiter over your face out in the middle of a lake?

[@spiltmilt]

To protect my face from sunburn without having to wear nasty sunscreen. My family has a history of skin cancer.

[@danielcadwell9812]

@@spiltmilt I see, I thought it might've been some Rona thing. Glad that's not the case.

[@squids1298]

You forgot to take your wife.😝